“That’s none of your business.”

“It is if you intend to use my private lair for your orgies.” A wicked smile curved his lips. “I should at least be allowed to participate.”

She shivered, a deep yearning threatening to undermine her noble intentions. “Stop that,” she hissed, batting away his tormenting hand and reminding herself the cost of failure.

His amusement vanished as he slammed his hands against the wall on each side of her shoulders, caging her with his body. “Tell me why you’re here.”

She turned her head, frightened by the grim resolve etched on his beautiful face. “Because I wanted to get away from you and I thought this would be the last place that you would look for me.”

“It has nothing to do with your vision?”

“No, now go away.”

“Never.”

“Then I’ll leave.” She grabbed his arm, frantically trying to push it aside. “Dammit, let me go.”

There was a tense silence and she could feel Caine’s gaze searing over her rigid profile. Then, without warning, he dropped his arm and stepped back.

“Fine. You’re free to go.” He said nothing as she stood there, trembling from head to foot. Finally, he reached to brush a gentle hand down her cheek. “You can’t, can you?”

She dropped her head, her hands covering her face as her eyes filled with tears. “Please, Caine.”

She felt him wrap his arms around her shivering body, pulling her against him and pressing his lips to her temple.

“What?” he pleaded. “Talk to me, Cassie. I need to know what’s going on.”

“I can’t.”

“Was it the vision?”

She resisted for another long moment, before conceding defeat. There was no way she was getting rid of the stubborn Were. At least not unless she could prove to him it was too dangerous for him to stay.

Something that was as likely as her sprouting wings and flying.

She heaved a resigned sigh, resting her head against the welcome strength of his chest. “Yes.”

His hands glided up and down her stiff back in a comforting motion. “Can you tell me?”

“It’s you.”

“Me?” He stiffened, obviously shocked by her confession. “Do I do something wrong?”

“No, you’re captured.” She shuddered, the memory of her vision painfully vivid. “We both were.”

“Captured by whom?”

“I don’t know.”

“Where were we being held?”

“I don’t know.” She gave another shudder. “We were surrounded by a white fog.”

There was a long pause.

“So you took off because a vision revealed I’m going to be captured?” he asked softly.

“Yes.”

She heard his low growl a mere heartbeat before he was roughly pulling away, his jaw clenched and his eyes glowing with the power of his wolf. “God dammit, Cassie,” he barked. “What the hell were you thinking?”

Caught off guard by his unexpected attack, she blinked in confusion. “I was trying to protect you.”

“No.” He pointed a finger toward her, the veins on his neck visible as he struggled to contain his outrage. “That’s not allowed.”

“Not allowed?”

“It’s not your job.”

She scowled. “But it’s fine for you to protect me?”

“Yes.”

His blunt response left her tongue-tied. How did you argue with someone who didn’t bother to be reasonable? “How is that even logical?” she finally managed to inquire.

“You’re the prophet.” His tone was hard, unapologetic. “And whether you like it or not, you’re number one on the most wanted list right now.”

“I don’t like it.”

He ignored her childish outburst. “And for whatever twisted reason, fate has chosen me as your protector. That’s just how it is.”

She stepped forward, desperate to make him understand the danger he was in. “I couldn’t bear it, Caine.” She framed his face in her hands, her voice thick with fear. “You were . . .”

He swooped down to capture her lips in a fierce kiss that stole her words.

“Hush,” he commanded softly, pulling back to regard her with a somber expression. “I don’t care if I was dead, you will never again try to leave me.”

She shook her head, her fingers tightening on his face. “I won’t let you be hurt.”

“Think, Cassie. You said yourself it’s too dangerous to try and alter fate.” He peered deep into her wide eyes, his hands lightly encircling her wrists and his thumbs rubbing over her unsteady pulse. “What if your misguided attempt to keep me safe has tilted the balance of power to the Dark Lord?”

“I don’t care.”

He went still at her harsh words. “You would sacrifice the world for me?”

She didn’t hesitate. “Yes.”

“Cassie.” With a groan, he leaned forward, resting his forehead against hers. “Gods, you never fail to astonish me.”

She made a sound of exasperation. She didn’t want to astonish him. She wanted to make him flee in fear.

“Please, please go, Caine.”

His jaw jutted. “No way in hell.”

“Which is quite likely where we’re going,” she snapped.

“I always knew it was inevitable.”

She hissed at his flippant retort. “This isn’t funny.”

“Actually, I would say that it’s the greatest cosmic joke in the history of the world,” he added, a humorless smile twisting his lips.

“What does that mean?”

“Those visions of yours are bigger than both of us.” He turned his head so he could plant a kiss in the center of her palm. “And right now I’m all you’ve got to guard you from the bad guys.” He gave a sharp laugh. “The gods help us.”

Chapter 11

Gaius’s lair in Louisiana

The female wasn’t as adequate as the last. Her dark hair was too short and her skin too pale, while her curves were on the wrong side of lush. But beggars couldn’t be choosers, and shuddering to a climax beneath the skilled stroke of her mouth, Gaius grasped her by the hair and jerked her upright.

Her dark eyes were drenched with adoration as she rubbed her naked body against him. “Was it good, baby?”

Gaius grimaced, roughly turning her around as he straightened his black slacks that he’d matched with a crisp white shirt. Then, pressing her against the paneling of his private bedroom, he tilted her head to strike deep into the flesh of her throat.

“Oh yeah,” she groaned, writhing in pleasure as he drank deeply of her blood. “More.”

He continued his meal even as he heard the sound of approaching footsteps. It was only when the sharp knock rattled his door that he at last pulled out his fangs and licked shut the female’s tiny wounds.

“Wait,” he commanded, stepping back to smooth down his hair and adjust his black silk tie.

Without warning the female turned to toss herself against him, wrapping her arms around his neck. “No, don’t stop.”

He hissed, his lips curling in disgust. “Release me.”

The dark eyes were filled with mindless need. “Please, fuck me.”

“Watch your language.” Raising his hand, he slapped her hard enough to slam her head against the wall. With a low groan she crumpled to the floor and Gaius turned toward the door. “Enter.”

The door was pushed open to reveal Sally dressed in her usual uniform of tight black leather skirt and red bustier with her hair in pigtails. Instead of heels, however, she was wearing black combat boots that laced up to her knees, with spiderweb stockings peeking between the top of the boots and the hem of her too-short skirt.

Her heavily lined eyes widened as she stepped into the room to discover the unconscious female sprawled at his feet. “Did you kill another one?”

“She lives,” Gaius said with utter indifference. “Why have you interrupted?”

The witch licked her black lips. “You said that you wanted to know when I was ready to scry for Cassandra.”

Gaius paused, making certain he was at his full strength before he gave a short nod. There was no way in hell he was agreeing to go after the prophet unless he was confident he could keep himself protected.

“Fine.” He waved a dismissive hand. “Get the curs in place and I’ll join you in a few minutes.”

With a last glance at the motionless whore, Sally left the room, pulling the door shut behind her.

Once alone, Gaius reached beneath his jacket to pull out an antique gold locket. Pressing the hidden lever, the locket sprang open, revealing the miniature portrait of Dara.

His unbeating heart warmed at the sight of his mate. Her pretty features. Her satin-smooth hair. The proud tilt of her head. And the piercing sweetness of her smile.

His fingers tightened on the locket, the aching void in his soul so large he thought at times he would fall in and never crawl back out.